August 2017 Pet Product News International

In keeping with this trend, Fluff &

NEW WAYS TO PLAY

Tuff launched Squeakerless toys thisyear, including a large Squirrel, small andmedium-sized Zebra Balls, and a minilaunched, the NomNomz were found allover social media.”This spring, P.L.A. Y. (Pet Lifestyle Andproceeds going back to the InternationalFund for Animal Welfare, it’s a feel-gooditem for everyone.”While plush remains popular, StephanieMorsello, account manager for Fluff & Tuffin Bloomfield Hills, Mich., has seen a risinginterest in toys that are silent.

Guppy Fish.

This year, ZippyPaws in Chino, Calif.,
expanded its Z-Stitch durable plush toy
line with Z-Stitch Grunterz, four prehistoric
characters that grunt when squeezed, said
vice president Jennifer Cao.

One of Kruuse’s most recent introduc-tions is the mentally stimulating BusterP.L.A. Y. (Pet Lifestyle And You) alsoadded to its food-themed collection oftoys.

“Customers want toys that are fun and
made of the same high-quality construction and materials, but a quieter option,”
she said.

ActivityMat, designed to allow dogs to
complete varying tasks with different
levels of difficulty, said Lars Lund, sales
director for the Langeskov, Denmark-based
company.

“Consumers are also drawn totrendy toys that are great photo propsfor social media,” she said. “Earlier thisyear, we launched the NomNomz, aline of six food-inspired plush toys thatpeople love to buy for their dogs. Justa few months, after NomNomz wereYou) debuted its Safari Toy Collection. Thetoys’ size and unique-sounding supersizedsqueakers make them perfect for biggerdogs, said Sarah Johnson, sales coordina-tor for the San Francisco-based company.

“And we didn’t forget the little pups,”she added. “Each Safari toy has slidinghind limbs that even the little guys can useto grab, tug or carry. And with 2 percent of“Our International Classic toys offera squeaky pretzel, tug-worthy sushi, anda pull-part crinkle taco for hours of funand great photo opportunities as pups‘chow down’ on these tasty-looking toys,”

ONSUMER EDUCATIONMAXIMIZING PLAYTIME

Lars Lund, sales director for Kruuse,
based in Langeskov, Denmark,
noted that instructional videos and
easy-to-understand descriptions and
manuals are provided both on the company’s website and as printed material
that can be handed out in stores.

“Instructional videos placed in connection with the products are almost
essential for dog owners to understand
the use of mentally stimulating dog
toys,” he said.

At New York-based Dog & Co., the
most frequent question employees get
about toys concerns durability.

“We never have anyone coming
in and saying that their dog never
destroys a toy—but many come in
asking what we stock for their doggie
destroyer,” said owner Mindy Montney.
“As a team, we share information on

C
M

No dog toy is

Y
CM

indestructible,

MY

but some might

CY

take longer for

CMY

animals todestroy.

any new brands as they come in [and]information that’s important to custom-ers, whether it’s fabrication, benefits orcountry of manufacture.”At Four Muddy Paws, which hasstores in St. Louis and Edwardsville,Ill., co-owner Matt Brazelton said thatemployees are trained to make surecustomers know there is no dog toy thatis indestructible but that there might besome that take longer to destroy.

“We also educate them on how tobest play with the toys,” he said. “Notevery dog owner knows how to bestget use out of a toy for their pet.”Stephanie Morsello, account man-ager for Fluff & Tuff in Bloomfield Hills,Mich., said the company works to pro-vide guidance on monitoring playtime sopet owners can maximize not only thelife of the toys, but also the fun.